Two More Deaths Attributed to Heat

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Two Cook County men are among three Illinoisans whose deaths were attributed Wednesday to the recent heat wave.

The Cook County Medical Examiner said 56-year-old Charles Redmon and 45-year-old Ernest Crossley both died of heat stroke.

Photos: Heat Wave Scorches East, Mid-West

Their deaths bring to 18 the total deaths in the county tied to this summer's heat.

In Alton, near St. Louis, a man was found dead in his home where a window air-conditioning unit had been shut down to save money. Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn said the body of 63-year-old Jerry Besterfeldt was found Wednesday morning by his live-in girlfriend in their Alton home.

Your Photos: Chicago's Heat Wave

Nonn said Besterfeldt's core body temperature was 104 degrees.

The room temperature was nearly 94 degrees, even after the overnight cooling.